Remescar Review: Does It Get Rid of Stretchmarks?

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Frostie

Apparently a huge number of men are suffering from stretch marks as they try to get buff Hollywood bodies in the gym.

30% of customers buying anti-stretch mark products are now male and experts say demand is being driven by men in their mid-30’s ‘pumping iron’ causing their muscles to grow too rapidly for their skin. There has been a growing trend in men – inspired by the likes of Hollywood actors such as Hugh Jackman – to look more masculine and beefy by pumping iron, with fitness magazines advocating ‘quick bulk up’ workouts to get speedy results.

The most susceptible area for men to get stretch marks when they work out is under the arms, where their upper chest and front shoulder muscles connect, due to the fact that these areas tend to expand more in proportion to the rest of the body. The more pumped up the muscles become, the more the skin stretches.

We were sent some Remescar Silicone Stretch Marks Cream. to review. It is an affordable, non –invasive and clinically proven treatment that has a noticeable effect on scar reduction, most notably a 50% reduction in stretch marks by the people who used it clinical trials. So did it work? Let’s find out from our writer.

“I used this as suggested on the pack. Twice a day. I have to say that it does fade them. I have been using for about a month and there is definitely a difference. It says on the pack that you should use it for 2-3 months but I have already noticed a difference. I like it. I think it is great stuff. I will buy more when it runs out.”

So there you so. Stamp of approval from our (male) writer. Remescar also works on women.

£24.95 for silicone scar cream (100ml)

Remescar Silicone Stretch Marks Cream is available here and Boots stores nationwide and Boots.com.

E’Lifexir Flat Tummy Plus Review | Summer Essentials

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Frostie

We get sent a lot of stuff to review at Frost but these were a particular favourite because they really work. Take four a day and, hello!, flat tummy. They also leave you feeling healthier and less bloated. You can take two a day but we prefer to take four. They taste great, like mints and are incredibly convenient. Good stuff, highly recommended.

So, you’ve got your bikini, beach bag and towel, and can’t wait for a day in the sun, but bloating is stopping you from feeling bikini ready, so here’s a solution…

E’lifexir Flat Tummy plus® is a revolutionary food supplement that reduces bloating and aids digestion, making it the perfect healthy dietary addition to achieve the ultimate bikini body.

This handy prebiotic contains fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) which help to multiply the good bacteria in the gut, helping to ease bloatedness. Added peppermint oil gives the supplement its delicious minty flavour, making it a pleasant refreshment when taken twice a day after meals.

E’lifexir Flat Tummy plus® can be used to ease everyday bloating and discomfort, in addition to a dietary aid to achieve personal body and fitness goals. Whether you want to look your best at the beach or just want to feel on top form, pop a pack in your handbag and be ready to face the day.

E’lifexir Flat Tummy plus® costs £9.99 for 30 tablets, and is available in the UK and Ireland from Holland & Barrett nationwide and www.hollandandbarrett.com.or here.

Benecos Makeup Review

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

This brand is a new one to me and its really lovely with simple packaging and the look of clean lines. This natural young brand is all about affordable high quality products that deliver essentials to all women.

This young label was founded in Germany at the end of 2008 and the name Benecos stands for good cosmetics.

They believe in minimal packaging and instead of outrageous and highly expensive advertising Benecos uses word of mouth marketing. The brand have produced all the products to the BDIH standard and it has a touch of real luxury about it. The highlighter that I tested was so delicate and beautiful, it was silky to the touch and it was so subtle it could be used all over the face for that perfect fresh glow. Not overpowering like a few brands if you are a little heavy handed. This looked stunning applied to the top of the cheeks and along the bridge of the nose. Add a little under the arch of the brow to give a stunning life to the eyes. Give your shoulders a touch of sheer dewiness and add some along your collar bone for a fresh and sculpted look. Even a swirl added to a large makeup brush and applied to the centre of the legs will give you a fine elegant and pretty finish.

Every face is different but a general rule you’ll want to pay especially close attention to where the light hits your face, so look for the highest points if you are in any doubt. Just make sure you don’t go overboard otherwise you may look a little too shiny. I doubt you could make any mistakes with this product as its not really a shimmer, its more of a lift. It creates the ultimate and oh so soft dimensions for natural looking makeup. Very done but in an undone way. Almost like you have a little secret in your cosmetic purse!
This is perfect for the simple makeup looks hitting the runways for this next season. Great for quick touch ups throughout the day and it won’t break the bank either. All Benecos products are organic and at around the £5-7 you can indulge as much as you like.

Pop me a little Tweet @sarahbacchus to let me know if you have tried this brand before! You can purchase the range here. Go and say hi over at Twitter @BenecosUK

Déjà Vu Boutique (Ipswich) – Been Here Before? Certainly Worth A Return Visit!

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

It’s widely understood that fashion is fickle but this little gem in the heart of Ipswich bucks the trend. Mandy Errington is the creative force behind Déjà Vu, a ‘chic and unique’ shopping experience renowned for being Suffolk’s ‘top-to-toe unique boutique’.

Déjà Vu attracts the right kind of attention, with one-off pre-loved, vintage, exclusive designer and brand new fashion, inspiring every budget and taste. Offering a bespoke, personal service along with fashion tips and advice, you can treat yourself to a makeover which will guarantee that you leave the boutique looking good and feeling great.

With elegant suiting and sensual fabric, the boutique gives a flavour of empowerment, cleverly thought out space with walls covered in beautiful designs which exude style, an un-intimidating and relaxed atmosphere showcasing simple shapes to exquisite timeless elegance, clothes that won’t date or dictate a period. Accessories maketh woman, so Déjà Vu guarantee to coordinate heels, bags and baubles to suit your summer wardrobe with soft, feminine details – a bow or a chain trim… Deja Vu redefines mademoiselle chic.

The only dilemma is which items to choose – there’s a bewildering array of perennially stylish couture, handbags that epitomise understated chic, desirable heels and the ultimate in décolletage decoration complete the range of covetable trimmings. Déjà Vu source individually so there’s less chance of seeing the same outfit duplicated. Mandy is particularly thrilled at becoming a stockist of Covert Cases, a seriously gorgeous range of funky-coloured iPhone and iPad covers with prices starting at £10.

The boutique has an enviable eco-friendly image, with an energy efficiency rating as high as I’ve ever seen associated with a commercial premise through sensible use of lighting and heating.

I was impressed with the spacious changing room and the fact that if you fall in love with something that isn’t quite the right fit, an adjacent alteration service, Star Alterations, is at hand with quality adjustments to make the fit perfect.

With the help of Mandy at Déjà Vu, you can easily shed 10 years with a wardrobe change but your make-up can easily be a tell-tale giveaway. Déjà Vu have recently introduced ‘Zoya’, a vegan-friendly nail polish range, made with no harsh chemicals and available in a choice of luxurious colours and finishes, but was one of the initial ambassadors for a range of make-up by Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, conceived by a professional aesthetician, Pauline Youngblood–Soli. The range is all about quality, from light-reflective foundations that give the smoothest, sheerest coverage for all skin types and colours to lipsticks and eye-colour which are adaptable for subtle or strong colour-ways. The products are pure, contain no fragrances, oils or talcs, ideal for post-treatment application, actively helping to soothe and heal the skin.

We’d all like our make-up to look as if our skin had been re-touched, but that doesn’t always mean we’re willing to use invasive products to achieve it. A signature look is all about detail and Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics epitomises this with their 100% chemical-free skin-transforming make-up, packaging with a reassuringly expensive feel and sleek-mirrored compacts for applying your make-up whenever and wherever.

Mandy chose to create the smoky eye, a catwalk favourite from the last few seasons brought bang up to date with a subtle use of colour rather than black, as Mandy showed when she created my summer-inspired smouldering look.

Mandy Errington is a perfectionist, she’s not happy until you are… in the current environment of high street too-big-to-care brands, she has an ethos all independent boutiques should aspire to.

www.dejavuboutique.co.uk

Facebook: DejaVuBoutiqueIpswich

@DejaVuIpswich

10 Norwich Road

Ipswich

IP1 2NG

Tel: 01473 404592

Images © Shane Finn – Visual Devotion

Frost Summer Beauty Special

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

Summer is a different beast when it comes to beauty. Hot, humid or just plain cold and freezing. The British summer throws everything at you. It is the time of year when Brits have to leave the house with sunglasses and an umbrella in their bag. You just never know. Winter beauty products don’t really work for summer, they are too thick, heavy and creamy usually. Makeup has to be revised so it doesn’t end up slipping off the face when the temperature goes up. So we have done a lot of reviewing to bring you some excellent summer beauty picks. Read on and let us know what you think, and add your own recommendations below.

These Gosh Forever Metallic Eyeshadow Sticks are getting a review all of their own, but until then I will just have to recommend them here. They are waterproof, look amazing on and come in a variety of amazing colours. I love them beyond words. Available from Superdrug.

These Swimmable products from Cargo are amazing. The above is a waterproof eye pencil and a waterproof eye shadow stick. Both work and both give great colour. Highly recommended.

Yves Rocher Ultra Long-Lasting Cream Eyeshadow in Cuivre

This is amazing stuff, especially for a cream eyeshadow. It looks like a lip gloss but is actually a budge proof, crease-proof, waterproof eyeshadow that lasts and looks great on. Creamy and comfortable, it goes on in a uniform layer and blends easily. Flawless and long-lasting make-up.

2 shades, £14 at www.yves-rocher.co.uk

Anovia’s ‘Love the Tan’ Leg Spray. Amazing, perfecting, natural leg spray. Covers imperfections and is water resistant. Just washes off. It looks great on and covers well. Perfect for when you bring out the summer dresses. These are a brand new product to Anovia’s ‘Love the Tan’ range and launched at the end of last month. Get your hands on some.

I love a facial spray in summer and this Rose Otto Hydrating Facial Toner from Therapi Honey Skincare smells amazing and is nourishing. It is made with 83% organic ingredients and 5% of profits go to support bee conservation. This tones and revitalises skin whilst leaving it feeling moisturised. It uses honey which they say is nature’s miracle moisturiser. Very good stuff and we loved the Orange Blossom Honey Gel Cleanser and Orange Blossom Honey Moisturiser too. Both were excellent and left skin looking amazing. I am also obsessed with orange blossom at the moment, which obviously helps!

Organic Surge is perfect for summer. There products are fresh, smell amazing and are usually fruity and light. We reviewed three of their products starting with:

Organic Surge Moisturising Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel

I could sniff this all day long. It smells great and summery. It really cleanses skin and leaves it feeling soft. It is sweet orange and bergamot essential oils. Very refreshing and like all Organic Surge products is free from SLS, parabens, synthetic fragrances and colourants.

Organic Surge Gardeners Hand Cream With Lime, Basil & Rosemary

This (again) smells amazing. Just divine. It drys fast and is not sticky. Protects hands, soothes red skin and nut butter and seed oils work to resist ingrained dirt. Can use with or without gloves. Perfect for the green fingered.

Organic Surge Super-Intensive Daily Moisturiser

This great moisturiser leaves skin looking radiant and really hydrates. It also works on sensitive skin. Has cocoa butter, shea butter and glycerine with green tea and camomile. Love it.

From www.idealworld.tv

I absolutely love this Lily Lolo Burst Your Bubble Pressed Blush. It is a gorgeous dark pink colour. It is velvety soft, kind to your skin and highly pigmented. It gives a sheer natural flush or a brighter pop of colour to your cheeks if you layer it on. Their blusher brush is amazingly soft and perfectly angled. I can’t live without it now. It is perfect for contouring.

It contains anti-ageing Sea Holly extract and Argan Oil, as well as moisturising Jojoba Oil, it also has a natural anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial protection. Fragrance and talc free. Packaged in a lovely mirrored compact perfect for on the go and travel. Available from the 27th June 2014. Blusher £9.99. Blusher Brush £7.99.

Available in 6 beautiful shades.

Shade names –

Coming Up Roses

Just Peachy

Tickled Pink

Tawnylicious

Burst Your Bubble

In The Pink

Available from www.lilylolo.co.uk

Last but not least…

FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Face Wash and FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Serum

FaceB4 joined Superdrug as a stockist for Superdrug’s 50th birthday, they even repackaged in celebration. Now that is a love-in. FaceB4 Anti-Bacterial Face Wash is the UK’s most effective face wash. FaceB4 is clinically proven to clear skin, reduce redness and prevent future blemishes. It says the antibacterial face wash clears skin in just four days and it isn’t lying. This stuff really works and used along with the vitamin enriched serum really calms skin. The serum gives a matte look and the face wash is a combined cleanser and toner. We’re impressed and will continue to use. Good stuff.

From Superdrug (obviously)

What are your summer picks?

Tone Tee Review

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Frostie

A revolutionary new body toning fit wear specifically engineered for men, which shapes, sucks and slims. Male shape-wear has traditionally always been unappealing, bulky & unattractive, not to mention embarrassing.

Tone Tee’s super-slimming secret is its specially-designed 360 degree Tone Technology – precision core stabilising compression panels which target key problem areas for men, such as love handles, beer bellies, back fat and sagging pecs, leaving nothing behind but a smooth and sleek silhouette. With athletic design, special built-in temperature control breathe-in-technology. But does it work? We got a writer to test it out. This is what they said:

“This is comfortable. It was weird when I first put it on as it is ridged. It works in a similar way to spanx, smoothing things out and giving a better silhouette. It does smooth things out and the fabric feels nice. It works on paunches and moobs but won’t make you look stones lighter than you are. Still impressed though.”

RRP: £19:99 for two Tees Stockist: www.highstreettv.com and here.

Will you be trying it?

Male Infertility: Did You Know That Sperm Count Is Dramatically Declining?

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Frostie

It’s Men’s Health Week (9th-15th June 2014) and whilst much has been written about the previously taboo male health topics such as prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, the area of male infertility has, until recently, been relatively ignored. Most information and support around infertility is directed at women, however in 40% of cases, the cause of the problem lies with the man.1

Recently, doctors and researchers have been looking at the decline in sperm quality in all men, one of the more common causes of male infertility, and speculating on the causes for this alarming and growing problem. Up to a fifth of young men today have a low sperm count (defined as fewer than 20 million sperm per millilitre of semen2) and the number of sperm in each millilitre of semen has halved between World War Two and 1992, while abnormal sperm is on the rise.3 We can’t be sure why this is happening, although a recent study suggests that a combination of different chemicals found in everyday packaging and toiletries, may be having an impact.

To help couples who are trying for a baby but may be experiencing issues such as low sperm count and motility issues, The Stork is a new home conception aid, which uses cervical cap insemination and bridges the gap between starting to try for a baby and in-clinic treatment options.

“Male fertility is an area which has been greatly over looked over the last few years so it’s encouraging to see this research examining the causes. It’s important for men to think about their fertility – not just their partner’s – when planning a family. Overheating, obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking can all impair sperm quality and motility. Some men may feel their masculinity is compromised in some way when they learn they could have fertility issues, check this as it is better to deal with these head on than bury your head in the sand. Ask your doctor to investigate what might be the cause so you can identify potential solutions. For some couples with low sperm count or low motility, the new at-home conception aid, The Stork, can help because it puts the sperm as close to the egg as possible,” said Professor Ellis Downes, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

1. Schiffer C., Müller A., Egeberg D. L., Alvarez L., Brenker C., Rehfeld A., Frederiksen H., Wäschle B., Kaupp U. B., Balbach M., Wachten D., Skakkebaek N. E., Almstrup K. and Strünker T. (2014), Direct action of endocrine disrupting chemicals on human sperm. EMBO

2. NHS Choices: Low sperm count. Available at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-sperm-count/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Last accessed June 2014]

3. Elizabeth Carlsen and others, “Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during the past 50 years,” British Medical Journal, 305, 1992, 609-613

Kerastase Hair Product Review

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Sarah Bacchus

Every girl knows the importance to regular haircuts but after that we are all a little terrible when purchasing good quality products. We rush off to the pharmacy to purchase the latest hair oils and frizz fighting serums and most of them don’t cut the mustard. Well these 2 new products from Kerastase will leave you wallet a little lighter in the short term but will last for around 10 months. So price per wash and style it really is worth investing in the latest hair innovations.

The Kerastase – ELIXIR ULTIME -125 ml beautifying hair oil is one tough fighter against damaged hair. The more this is used the better the results you will see. It gives hair that perfectly fresh cut, bouncy and smooth as silk feel. I loved this so much as its created dazzling shine, Its the ultimate light and soft oil. You will only need a pea sized drop used on the mid lengths of the hair to really see a change. Over the coming few days using it your hair will get better and better as this is a leave in treatment that can be used all year round with no build up.

It can be used as a pre shampoo, or used on wet or dry hair and this is really well worth the money.

I am also a gluten for beautiful packing and this looks stunning sitting on the dressing table.

The DENSIFIQUE Mousse Densimorfhose 150 ml is as you would expect just as awesome as the oil, smells divine and helps you create the most brilliant bouncy styles. Applied on damp towel dried hair at the roots is adds hold, volume and delightful style for more than the first day its used. I loved the fact it didn’t weigh the hair down one little bit. Just remember a little goes a very long way for both these products so one small pump of each should be all you need.

For more beauty and style advice head over to slbstyle.com and come ask me anything beauty related over on Twitter @sarahbacchus as I used to be an educator with some of the leading brands. Now its more about the product photography but I still love giving advice to all you lovely readers. x

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